The unprecedented killing of two cameramen from Gaza's Hamas television station in a targeted missile strike this week raised questions about whom Israel considers to be militant operatives, and thus legitimate targets.

Thousands of people across the Middle East protested yesterday against Israel's aerial bombardment of the Gaza Strip, with some chanting "death to Israel" and others calling for the bombing of Tel Aviv.

Israel will take “whatever action is necessary” to defend its citizens from Palestinian rocket attacks, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday as the military pressed a massive operation in Gaza.